Violet Edwards, a 96-year-old grandmother, has been reportedly the fifth-oldest person in the world to receive a degree after graduating from Mercy College in New York.
Growing up, she was the first in her village to attend school at Happy Grove High School in Jamaica on a full academic scholarship.
She enrolled in the College of New Rochelle in the early 1980s but reluctantly left due to financial roadblocks
According to reports, she took her final exams before graduation during World War II and even was fearful that the test would not make it to England, where it was sent over for grading.
Since Edwards did not have the money to continue her education, she decided to pursue a career within the island’s postal service.
With a spirit destined for greatness, she became the first appointed female regional inspector before she decided to retire and head to New York in 1973.
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Once in the states, Edwards’ sole mission was to help put her daughter through medical school. This also inspired her to return to school.
Therefore, she decided to enroll in the College of New Rochelle in the early 1990s, where she earned some credits. When Rochelle became Mercy College, her credits transferred.
Another financial setback prevented Edwards from fulfilling her mission. However, she still persevered.
On top of the lack of financial resources, she soon discovered that the college she had attended was closed once she tried to re-enrol for a second time.
Unfortunately, 84 of her credits were non-transferable, yet she kept going.
Growing up, there was no internet, computers, or smartphones as there is today.
So, online classes took some additional learning. “Everything was on pad paper and pencil. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m going along with it,” she said, referring to adapting to online classes,” she said.
Thankfully, her daughter and son-in-law were there to help keep her connected and troubleshoot any issues.
“It was challenging…but I went through it. I wouldn’t give up,” she added.
Overcoming cancer
Last month, she defied the odds to achieve such a feat after being diagnosed with cancer just one year shy of her last year in college.
On July 5, she underwent surgery and completed her final radiation treatment, Local 10 reported.
The community where she lives held a graduation ceremony for Violet in June. Photos show Edwards in her cap and gown, holding her degree.
Her message for others: “I would say it’s never too late. Don’t just forget that it’s never too late. Look at me how I started again, I restarted…and tried to move along and go towards my goal, and I did.”
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